Marie encourages her clients to keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. You thank them for their service, and then let them go.

You can apply this to the activies and responsibilities you have taken on in your life.

Step 1: Gather

Write down everything you do. You can use your calendar to help but mostly rely on your memory. Mentally go through each day of the month. Write down everything you do.

Repeated tasks only need to appear once. At this point, don't judge anything. Simply write each activity down and move onto the next. You'll end up with a long list.

Step 2: Choose

Start at the top of the list. For each item, consider if it is necessary or speaks to your heart. If it's neither necessary nor sparking joy, mark it for letting go.

Step 3: Thank and let go

Take a new sheet of paper. Write down each item that you've marked and as you're writing, feel thankful and then let it go. You can take a brief pause and a breath between each item to complete this goodbye.

Don't worry about how you'll let go. We'll get to that.

Step 4: Transition gracefully

There are many simple habits that you can easily walk away from. Some, especially those involving other people, require additional work. If letting go affects others, inform them of your decision in way that is both firm and kind. Rather than dwelling on explanations, focus on being helpful to ease the transition.

Step 5: Live your new life

Unlike physical things that you can give away or discard, habits may pop up for a while. The list in Step 3 is important because you'll have to remind yourself of what you've let go. Following through may not be easy but it will certainly be worth it.